Useful next calculations
When to use this calculator
- Before choosing between saving, investing or changing a contribution.
- When you want to compare cautious, base and optimistic return assumptions.
- When you need a projection before making a longer-term decision.
- When you want to see whether starting earlier or contributing more changes the outcome more.
A worked example
These are the example figures the calculator opens with.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual Gross Salary (€) | €65,000 |
| Your Current Age | 40 |
| Target Retirement Age | 68 |
| Current Pension Value (€) | €0 |
For those figures the calculator returns:
- Projected pension pot: €1,195,792.88
- Max personal contribution: €16,250.00
- Tax relief: €6,500.00
- Net cost of contribution: €9,750.00
- Est. annual retirement income (4%): €47,831.72
- Your age-based limit: 25.00%
How to read your results
Tax Relief
Review this figure alongside gross income and the local tax rules that apply to you. It is a planning estimate, not a filing result.
Method & assumptions
This calculator projects a pension fund at your chosen retirement age using Ireland's 2024 Revenue contribution rules. The age-based personal contribution limit (ranging from 15% to 40% of capped earnings of €115,000) is applied each year alongside your employer contribution to determine the total annual amount invested. The projected pot is calculated by compounding the starting balance and annual contributions at the growth rate you specify, applied at the end of each year. Tax relief is estimated at 40% for salaries above €42,000 and 20% for lower earners, approximating the marginal rate; the net cost figure shows what the maximum contribution effectively costs after relief. The 4% sustainable withdrawal rate shown is a widely used planning rule of thumb and is illustrative only.
This calculator does not model defined benefit schemes, variable employer matching rules, pension levy deductions, or the impact of investment charges (which can materially reduce real-world returns). The State Pension (Contributory) is excluded from projections and should be factored in separately. Revenue's earnings cap and age limits are confirmed for 2026 but may change in future Finance Acts. Projections are sensitive to the assumed growth rate — a 1% difference in long-run returns can significantly alter the final fund value over a multi-decade accumulation period. This tool is for illustrative planning purposes; consult a Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland before making contribution decisions.
Common mistakes
- Using an assumption that is not supported by a current local quote, bill, statement or official source.
- Treating a generic estimate as a lender, provider, payroll or tax authority decision.
- Mixing monthly and annual inputs without converting them consistently.
- Testing only one scenario instead of checking how a cautious assumption changes the result.
What to do next
- Run a second scenario with a cautious assumption so you can see the downside clearly.
- Compare the result with the related calculators below before making a decision.
- Check current local rules, eligibility and provider terms before applying or committing money.
- Keep a record of the assumptions so you can update the estimate when a quote, bill or pay figure changes.